Despite widespread publicity, the event on Tuesday attracted only 66 people – including teachers and parent council members.

The parent council, which is currently leading the campaign in advance of an action committee taking the reins, conceded that the attendance was "disappointing" but denied that it reflected a significant lack of support for the cause.

Julie Mackinnon, the parent council's vice-chairperson, said they had recruited 30 people for the action committee following a presentation on the run-down state of the school during the open evening. This brings the committee's total strength to 36 ahead of its official formation next month.

Mrs Mackinnon conceded that Tuesday's turnout had been low, in light of the advance publicity, but said the parent council was not reading too much into that.

"It is disappointing, given the media coverage along with the invitations issued to the parents and guardians of 800 pupils and the fact that the meeting was open to the public," she said.

"We would naturally have wanted to see a bigger attendance, but perhaps a Tuesday wasn't the most suitable of nights and possibly there are some people who thought they might be pressed into joining our committee.

"Others might have taken the view that now the parent council has got the campaign up, 'we can leave it up to them'. Nothing is further from the truth – we need all the support we can get if our campaign is to succeed, and we must take every opportunity to demonstrate the depth of our support through a solid physical presence."

Mrs Mackinnon took issue with one parent who said she was embarrassed at the lack of attendance and questioned the level of support for the campaign.

"We know we have strong support," Mrs Mackinnon said. "For example our online petition has topped the 700 mark and we had no difficulty in recruiting people for our action group on Tuesday night."

The campaign was launched last month when an audiovisual presentation and tour of the school buildings highlighted a dismal catalogue of defects.

Supporters of the campaign, including Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Lib Dem MSP Jamie Stone, have pledged to fight for a new school.

As reported in this week's Caithness Courier, Highlands and Islands Labour MSPs Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant and David Stewart visited Wick High last Friday and promised to put pressure on the Highland Council to replace the school as a matter of priority.

"The school is every bit as grim as we had expected and is not suitable for the 21st century," Mr Peacock said. "The children and teachers deserve much better."

First Minister Alex Salmond has been invited north to see the school buildings for himself but has yet to respond. HM Inspectorate of Education is expected to visit the school in the near future.

The action group will be formed at a meeting in the school on May 7 and it will then decide on its campaign and fundraising agendas.

The audiovisual presentation on Wick High will be delivered at the Highland Council's Wick ward business meeting on May 12.

n.donaldson@nosn.co.uk

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